Coin repository



E. P. BELL COIN REPOSITORY Filed Aug. 24, 1964 INVENTOR. fiZ/GENE B BELL BY ,{mwb i M fiTTOQA/EYS,

Winn

llllllllllllllllllllll H J!!!!!!!!H!!!HBL I I E O T O United States Patent ()fiice 3,229,700 Patented Jan. 18, 1966 3,229,700 CUIN REPUSITORY Eugene P. Bell, 9662 Nadine, Temple City, Calif. Filed Aug. 24, 1964, Ser. No. 391,573 2 Claims. (Cl. 133-8) This invention relates to a coin repository and more particularly to a coin repository or holder which includes a visual calculator and to a supporting structure WlllCh retains a plurality of these coin repositories or holder for movement from one place to another.

Heretofore in establishments that use cash registers, the cashier has received his or her coins in rolls of specific denominations and amounts or in a canvas or other type of bag. The receipt of money in this particular form has required the time of the cashier to count and double check the money which has been given to him or her before it is put into the cash register and again after it has been checked out by the cashier and returned to the oifice or other place for turn-in at the end of the work day. This invention eliminates the necessity of physically counting specific coins and provides a repository or holder for coins in separated denominations and a visual calculator means which may be read to determine the total amount of money in the holder. I

It is an object of this invention to provide a coin reposltory adapted to receive a specific denomination of COlIlS to be used by the cashier or other person.

A further object of this invention is to provide a coin repository and supporting structure for transporting a plurality of coin repositories.

A further object of this invention is to provide a coin repository and calculator including a generally tubular member having a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of coins of specific denomination and whereby each of the tubular members includes a visual calibrated scale by which it may be determined the exact amount of money within each of the generally tubular holders.

Another object of this invention is to provide coin repositories and calculator which are individually insertable and removable from a supporting structure and when the required repositories or holders are in place, they will be locked therein until the support structure is opened.

Another object of this invention is to provide a coin repository and calculator and supporting structure which is adapted to be locked to prevent the unauthorized tampering with coins which have been placed in the repositor These and other objects of the invention will be made more fully apparent from a consideration of the description which follows taken in conjunction with the drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view partially cut away of the individual coin repositories mounted within the support structure;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view partly cut away of the assembly illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a cross sectional view taken on line 33 of FIGURE 1 showing one of the coin repositories in place within the supporting structure;

FIGURE 4 is a cross sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIGURE 1 showing further details of assembly;

FIGURE 5 is a cross sectional view illustrating the method of inserting a repository within the supporting structure; and

FIGURE 6 is a cross sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIGURE 1.

The invention comprises a coin repository or holder generally designated 10 which may be used individually or a plurality of them may be mounted within a supporting structure generally designated 12.

Each of the coin repositories or holders 10 is similar in configuration and structure. They are each provided with a generally flat base 14 to which is afiixed a hollow tube member 16. At the top 18 of the tube 16 is a flared generally square hopper 20 having inclined sides 22 proiecting outwardly from the tube 16 and vertically extending top walls 24 projecting upward from the angled walls 22. Each of the walls 22 are normal to each other, as are the walls 24, forming the square hopper. Each of the walls 24 are provided with a flange 26 projecting outwardly at the top of the wall 24.

The interior diameters of the tubes 16 vary in diameter depending upon the diameter of the particular denomination of the coin to be received therein. FIGURES 1 and 2 illustrate five different repositories or holders 10 adapted to receive United States coins of 50 cent pieces, quarters, dimes, nickels and pennies, respectively, reading from left to right. The interior diameter 28 is slightly larger than the diameter of the respective coins to be placed therein.

Each of the tubes 16 is provided with one or more calculator means 29 including vertical viewing slots 30, best seen in FIGURE 2. While only one slot 30 is illustrated in each of the respective holders 10 and is the preferred embodiment, additional slots 30 may be provided at increments around the periphery of the tube 16 so that there would be four slots in all. Also it is possible to have only two slots diametrically opposite each other without departing from the spirit of the invention. These slots 30 extend through the wall of the tube 16 so that coins which are dropped through the hopper 20 may be viewed through the slots 30.

In order to achieve a quick visual calculation of the number of coins or amount of money in each of the respective tubes 16, calibrations in the form of line indentations or marks 34 are placed on each side of the slot 30. In the preferred form, the indentations are staggered or alternated for easy reference.

The identations 34 are calibrated to correspond to the thickness of the particular coin between the marks. To further facilitate visual calibration, numerals 36 are placed on the tube 16 adjacent the indentations or marks 34 which will give the exact amount of money in increments of the particular coin, i.e., 10, 20, 30, etc. on the dime holder.

From the standpoint of convenience and ease of manufacture, it is preferred that the individual coin repositories or holders 10 be molded from some type of rigid plastic material as a complete or integral unit. However, any type of material such as steel, aluminum, etc. may be emplayed in the productionof the respective coin repositories or holders without departing from the spirit of the invention. Further, the respective parts of the holders may be fabricated separately and assembled forming the complete holder 10.

In order to transport a plurality of coin holders from a safe to a cash register or from a cash register back to a safe or to any place which may be desired, a coin holder retainer means or supporting structure 12 is provided.

This structure 12 includes a frame 37 including an elongated rear Wall 38, an elongated front wall 40 of corresponding length with wall 38 and end walls 42 and 44 of corresponding length. Each of the respective walls are jointed together making a rectangle such as is illustrated in FIGURE 1. Formed in the interior surfaces 45 of the elongated rear and front walls 38 and 40 are slots or grooves 46 running the length of the respective walls and aligned with each other. The end wall 44 is of the same height as the respective side walls 33 and 40, as best seen in FIGURE 6. However, the end wall 42 as seen in FIGURE 5 extends downward from a common top surface of all the walls to the top of theslots 46, which construction will allow access to the slot 46 under the wall 42. The structure 12 is preferably further provided with a cover 48 which encloses the area defined by the frame 37. The cover 48 is preferably hingedly connected to the rear wall 38 by means of hinge 50. The cover 48 includes front and side walls 52, 54 and 56, respectively, which extend downward normal to the plane of the top cover 48 and enclose the frame 37. The end wall 56, as best seen in FIGURE 4, extends downward below the end wall 42 to a point lower than the slot of groove 46.

In order to lock the cover 48 over the frame 37, a pair of hooks 58 may be provided extending from the wall 52 under the forward wall 40. However, any other type of latch or catch may be employed to retain the cover in closed position.

To further provide portability of the entire structure a handle 60 may be provide-d for carrying the assembled structure from one place to another. The handle may be mounted to the top cover 48 by any conventional means such as a pair of horseshoe straps 62 into which may be inserted the ends 64 of the handle 60 so that it may be pivoted and laid flat on the cover when not in use.

An additional feature not illustrated but which may be provided to insure that the assembled structure is not pilfered or entered into unlawfully is the provision of a locking mechanism such as a key or combination lock on the cover 48 to prevent the cover from being opened.

In operation, an individual repository or holder may be filled with the particular denomination of coins by pouring the coins into the hopper 20 so that they will fall into the tube 16, lie in a horizontal positon and register through the slot 30 so that the proper monetary amount of coins may be placed in each hopper for use. As one holder 10 is filled, the process is repeated with different coins until the desired denomination of coins has been deposited and visually counted. It will be noted that some of the tubes are longer than other tubes and of course, each tube will not hold the exact same monetary amount. The reason for having the tubes of different lengths is so that the bases 14 may all be on a common plane when placed within the holder 12.

After all the coins have been inserted in holders 10 the cover 48 is opened, such as is shown in FIGURE 3, and the flanges 26 of the respective holders are aligned with the grooves or slots 46 and the first coin holder is slid along the groove abutting against end wall 44 as shown in FIGURE 6. The process is then repeated with the next coin holder being slid into position within the grooves 46 until the last coin holder is in place adjacent the end 42, as best seen in FIGURE 4. At this point the holders 10 may still be removed from the frame 37. However, when the lid 48 is lowered, such as shown in FIGURE 4, the end wall 56 closes off flanges 26 and locks the respective coin repositories 10 in place within the supporting structure 12. The lid is closed and the hook 58 or other latch means will retain the cover 48 in place. The handle 60 may be then grasped and the assembled unit containing the proper amount and denominations of coins may be then moved from one place to another.

The material utilized in forming the frame 37 and the cover 48 should preferably be that of a light weight material suoh as plastic which may be molded as is preferred for the holders 10. However, any type of rigid material can be used without departing from the spirit of the invention.

It will be seen that by having the flange 26 extending around the periphery of the hopper 20, and with the hopper being square and having diameters corresponding to the width of the frame 37, the coin holders 10 may be inserted without the need of indexing the holders for entry into the frame in only one position.

With the inclusion of four calculator means 29 around the periphery of the tube 16 in increments it will be seen that no matter which side of the hopper 20 is inserted within the frame 37, all of the holders will have a viewing slot 30 available for reading on a common plane without the necessity of turning the assembled structure around to view the individual slots in the holders in differ-ent positions.

While the instant invention has been shown and described herein in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is therefore not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by letters Patent is:

1. A plurality of individual coin repository and calculator combinations, each adapted to receive coins of different denominations wherein each of the combinations comprises a base, a hollow tubular body portion secured to said base, an open generally square shaped hopper communicating with the interior of said hollow tubular body portion remote from said base, said hopper at its open end including an annular outturned flange, an elongated slot in said body portion between said base and said hopper and communicating with the interior thereof, and calibrations extending along said elongated opening whereby coins received within said hollow tubular body will register with said calibrations through said elongated opening for visual monetary calculations, a supporting structure including a frame member having two elongated side panels spaced apart by two spaced apart end panels, said side panels each including opposed slots being formed along the longitudinal axis of said panels, said slots receiving a portion of the outturned flanges of said repositories in abutting relationship, and a cover mounted on said frame to enclose said hoppers of said individual coin repositories.

2. A plurality of individual coin repositories adapted to receive coins, each coin repository including a base, a hollow tubular body portion secured to said base, an open hopper communicating with the interior of said hollow tubular body portion remote from said base, said hopper at its open end including an annular out-turned flange, a supporting structure including spaced apart opposed slots, said slots receiving a portion of the outturned flanges of said repositories, stop means to maintain said repositories in said slot means within said supporting structure, and said supporting structure including a generally rectangular frame member having two elongated side panels, and said spaced-apart opposed slots being formed along the longitudinal axes of said panel-s.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,489,765 ll/1949 Emerson et a1 133-8 X 2,926,673 3/1960 Bernard 133-8 FOREIGN PATENTS 375,323 6/1932 Great Britain. 796,462 6/ 1958 Great Britain.

LOUIS I. DEMBO, Primary Examiner.

STANLEY H. TOLLBERG, Assistant Examiner- 

1. A PLURALITY OF INDIVIDUAL COIN REPOSITORY AND CALCULATOR COMBINATIONS, EACH ADAPTED RECEIVED COINS OF DIFFERENT DENOMINATIONS WHEREIN EACH OF THE COMBINATIONS COMPRISES A BASE, A HOLLOW TUBULAR BODY PORTION SECURED TO SAID BASE, AN OPEN GENERALLY SQUARE SHAPED HOPPER COMMUNICATING WITH THE INTERIOR OF SAID HOLLOW TUBULAR BODY PORTION REMOTE FROM SAID BASE, SAID HOPPER AT ITS OPEN END INCLUDING AN ANNULAR OUTTURNED FLANGE, AN ELONGATED SLOT IN SAID BODY PORTION BETWEEN SAID BASE AND SAID HOPPER AND COMMUNICATING WITH THE INTERIOR THEREOF, AND CALIBRATIONS EXTENDING ALONG SAID ELONGATED OPENING WHEREBY COINS RECEIVED WITHIN SAID ELONGATED LAR BODY WILL REGISTER WITH SAID CALIBRATIONS THROUGH SAID ELONGATED OPENING FOR VISUAL MONETARY CALCULATIONS, A SUPPORTING STRUCTURE INCLUDING A FRAME MEMBER HAVING TWO ELONGATED SIDE PANELS SPACED APART BY TWO SPACED APART END PANELS, SAID SIDE PANELS EACH INCLUDING OPPOSED SLOTS BEING FORMED ALONG THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID PANELS, SAID SLOTS RECEIVING A PORTION OF THE OUTTURNED FLANGES OF SAID REPOSITORIES IN ABUTTING RELATIONSHIP, AND A COVER MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME TO ENCLOSE SAID HOPPERS OF SAID INDIVIDUAL COIN REPOSITORIES. 